Sound-reproducing machine.



No. 868,771 PATENTED OCT. 22, 1907.

R. L. GIBSON.

SOUND REPRODUUING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 001. 31, 1906.

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ROBERT L. GIBSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANlA.

SOUND-REPRODUCING MACHINEQ Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22; 1907.

Application filed October 31,1906. Serial No. 341,393.

reproducing machine which shall cause a forced current of air to be put into sonorous vibration under the application of a reed or reeds and a control valve which is vibrated by the stylus, in turn put into a state of vibration by .the travcling record tablet.

Heretofore sound has been reproduced by causing a blast of air to be forced through the amplifier or horn, and during itspassage interrupting the uniformity of its flow by the action of a valve vibrated by the stylus. The objection experienced bythis type of machine has been that the sonorous sound necessitates a continuous flow of the air through the valve in large vollime and thereby consumes a large amount of air.

As the air has to be forced by a motor, the great quantity of air required to fiow through the open valve structure makes the machine expensive to operate and costly to make on account of the size and strength ofthe motor and blower required.

More specifically, my objectis to reduce the quantity of air necessary for circulation and thereby reduce.

the cost of operation. My objectis furthento reduce the cost of the machine and at the same time produce a more sonorous and pleasing 'tone to the sounds emitted. i i

In carrying out myinvention, I provide a continuous air passage from a blower to the born or amplifier, and in said passage I interpose a reed or reeds free to vibrate and also a valve controlled by the record tablet through the stylus, which valve controls the pulsations of air passing to the reed or reeds in accordance with the amplitude of the vibration of the stylus.

I in the ordinary way. The end of this arm has a head containing a balanced valve E which isarrange d between the heads F F. The valve disks and heads have apertures or slots 1; and f respectively to control the passage of air. V

Between the heads]? F is a chamber K in which the valve oscillates and this is supplied with air under pressure by a pipe leading from any suitable source of air such'as a blower, The chamber L on one side of one of the heads F communicates with the chamber M on the opposite side-of the other of the heads by the passageway N or otherwise as desired.

The valve has an oblique shaft P journaled in the head and is provided on the outside with a needle or style clamp H which holds the needle or point I.

This point of the stylus traverses the groove of the record tablet J arid is thereby vibrated and transmits such vibrations to the valve E which permits greater or less air to pass through the apertures e f in accordance with the amplitude of the vibrations of the stylus.

The air passes through the valve in puffs of greater or less strength and is received in the air chamber L of the tube A and from this as a receiver the air-flows through a reed or reeds G to the horn or amplifier (not shown). The reed structure consists of a perforated partition or wall D, preferably obliquely across the tube and the perforations B are covered with the reeds secured at one end. The reeds may be one or more in number, Fig. 3 indicating several. If desired, these reeds may be different so that the timbre or tone may be varied in different instruments which will impart a more sonorous or rich effect to the sound. Thevibration of the reed while giving the richness to the tone and also sustains the sound, the real cause for difference in rate of vibration is the valve, and the difference in rate of vibration is commensurate with the vibrations of the stylus. By this construction I am enabled to employ a closely fitting valve and hence avoid objectionable leak of air and consequently op crate the instrument with less power and expense.

I do not restrict myself to the details of construction herein set out asthey may be changed or modified to suit any particular design of machine to which the V improvements are applied.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sound reproducing machine, a tube for the passage of a current of air under pressure, combined with a valve to control the How of air, a stylus to operate the valve, and u reed through which the air escapes after leaving the valve.

2. In a sound reproducing machine, a tube for the passage of a current of air under pressure, combined with a valve to control the flow of air, a stylus to operate the 4. In a sound reproducing machine, a tube throughvalve to control the flow of air, a stylus to operate the valve, a reed through which the air escapes after leaving the valve, and an air chamber between the reed and valve.

6. In a sound reproducing machine, a tube through which a current of air is forced under pressure, a valve to cause the air to flow in variable blasts, a stylus to control the valve, and means for producing a vibration of the air after it leaves the valve.

7. In a sound reproducing machine, a tube through which a current of air is forced under pressure, a valve to cause the airto flow in variable blasts, a stylus to control the valve, mechanical means for producing a vibration of the air after it leaves the valve, and an air chamber between the valve and mechanical means.

8. The method of reproducing sound which consists in aos,771

creating a forced current of air, interrupting said current of air in the form of blasts in accord with sound articulations, and causing said blasts of air to take on a sonorous tone by passing in contact with and vibrating a reed.

9. The method of reproducing sound which consists in creating a forced current of air, interrupting said current of air in the form of blasts of variable strength and duration in accord with sound articulations, and causing said blasts of air to take on a sonorous tone by impressing upon them a predetermined rate of vibration. I

10. The method of reproducing sonorous sounds which consists in producing impulses in a current of air in accordance with the sound articulations to be reproduced and changing the character of the tone by impressing upon said impulses of air vibrations of a rate. I

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT L. omsoN.

predetermined fixed 

